Sounds like a trick to me. (no pun intended) I suspect that a heat pump will be a better choice if the idea is to turn electricity into household heat while using some directly for other appliances. The main item of interest is how efficient is the conversion of heat energy into sound and ultimately electricity. The high efficiency that they mention likely is in response to them using the waste heat in its degraded form.
How does that particular process compare to thermoelectric generators which are its competition? Dave -----Original Message----- From: H Veeder <[email protected]> To: vortex-l <[email protected]> Sent: Wed, Jan 1, 2014 1:11 pm Subject: [Vo]:acoustic conversion of heat into electricity Silicon Salley Start-up Powers Homes with Sound Waves <<The technology is called thermoacoustics and it uses sound to turn heat into electric power. That’s right, “sound.” Based on thermoacoustic technology developed by Xerox PARC in Palo Alto and refined by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Nirvana pioneered what it calls the “Power Stick,” an entirely new form of micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP).>> http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/12/10/silicon-valley-start-up-company-powers-homes-with-sound-waves/ NASA Glenn Technology May Soon Power American Households http://www.nasa.gov/press/2013/december/nasa-glenn-technology-may-soon-power-american-households/#.UsPGJfTuLh4
